Shepherd is a small town of 772 in Montana, with a median household income of $125,179
and a 6.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Shepherd stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shepherd is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Shepherd city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 89.6
Shepherd's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Shepherd costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Shepherd, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$207,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
95.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$125,179
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Higher than Average
Shepherd's violent crime rate is 668.3 per 100,000 residents
— 76% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
668.3 /100k
Property Crime
2880.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Shepherd is served primarily by Shepherd Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Shepherd, MT
National Avg
School District
Shepherd Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
29.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Shepherd sees average highs of 34.9°F in January
and 87.1°F in July,
with 14.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 34.4 inches of snow per year.
Shepherd's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Shepherd roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $207,800 and median rent is N/A/month.
Shepherd's violent crime rate is 668.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2880.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Shepherd are operated by Shepherd Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. 29.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shepherd, MT has a population of 772, a median household income of $125,179, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Shepherd averages 34.9°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.4 inches
with about 34.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shepherd, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59079.
The population of Shepherd, Montana is 772 with a median age of 40.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shepherd: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $207,800, median household income $125,179, crime index 160 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shepherd side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
